Fish-can.



C. E. SHAPER.

FISH CAN.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..21, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

o o o b nwnv 00 o ooao 0000 0 OOO 0 COLUMBIA PLANOG RAPH (10., WASHINGTON, D. c.

CHARLES E. SHAFER, OF LEWISTOWN, MARYLAND.

FISH-CAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SHAFER, citizen of the United States, residing at Lewistown, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fish-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its primary object a simple and eflicient construction of carrier for use in shipping gold fish, and the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure .l is a perspective view of a fish can embodying the improvements of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and, Fig. 4 is a detail view of a partition hereinafter specifically referred to.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in'the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a preferably tapered bucket or pail, the same being provided on the interior of one side intermediate of the top and bottom edges thereof, with spaced lugs 2 arranged in horizontal alinement with each other, and an intermediate lug 3 located slightly above the plane of the lugs 2. The receptacle is also provided at its opp-osite side with two transversely spaced interior lugs 4 on a level with the lugs 2, all of these lugs being preferably formed of relatively small pieces of Wire soldered or otherwise secured to the bucket.

5 designates a horizontal partition formed with perforations 6. This partition is designed for detachable support in the bucket or pail 1 by having one edge slipped down upon the lugs 2 and underneath the intermediate lug 3, the opposite edge of the partition being rested upon the lugs 4 and the partition being locked in position by means of a latch 7 extending over the adjoining edge thereof. Preferably, the partition 5 is provided with a looped handle 5 by which it may be easily lifted from the receptacle when released by the latch.

The bucket 1 is provided at opposite sides Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912. Serial No. 615,996.

with notched plates 8 forming keepers, the plates being arranged in pairs with the notches facing each other, as shown, and normally flush with the upper edge ,of the bucket. 9 designates a rack which is formed of any desired number of metal bars laid crosswise, as clearly illustrated in the drawing, and soldered or otherwise secured together, the ends of one pair of bars being adapted to extend through one pair of notched plates or keepers 8, and the opposite ends of the bars being designed for en gagement in the notches of the other pair of keepers. One of the bars, contiguous to one of the keepers, is formed with an aperture designed to register with an aperture formed in the outwardly projecting end 10 of a plate 10 riveted or otherwise secured to the bucket, whereby a seal 11 may be inserted through the registering apertures so as to securely hold the rack in position.

I11 one form or embodiment of my invention, the horizontal partition 5 is formed with a centrally disposed opening in which an ice receptacle 12 is designed to fit, the tapering side walls of said receptacle securely holding it suspended by the partition 5, project-ing above and below the same and spaced on all sides from the walls of the bucket or pail 1. The receptacle 12 is provided near its bottom and on opposite sides with interior lugs 13 arranged to support a grid or perforated plate 14. The ice receptacle 12 is also formed with a lid 15 preferably provided with a depending flange fitting within the upper edge of the receptacle. In the practical use of this embodiment of my invention, the gold fish are contained, with sufficient water, in the lower part of the bucket or pail 1, underneath the partition 5, the perforations 6 providing breathing openings, and the bucket 1 being preferably formed with perforations 6 for the same purpose, whereby, should the buckets be packed one upon the other, the fish will not suffer for want of air. In summer time the ice receptacle 12 is used, being furnished with the requisite amount of ice resting upon the grid or perforated plate 141, the drippings passing through said plate into the bottom portion of said receptacle, the Water within the bucket being thereby maintained in properly cool condition. In cooler weather, however, I may omit the ice receptacle 12 and use, in lieu of the partition 5 hereinbefore described, a perforated partition 16, devoid of any opening for the reception of an ice receptacle, this form of partition being illustrated in detail in Fig. 4:.

Preferably, in order that my improved fish cans may be easily handled, the buck ets l are formed at opposite sides with handholds 17, the metal defining the upper walls of said hand-holds being bent upwardly around a reinforcing band 18 riveted to the upper edge of the bucket, whereby the upper walls of the hand-holds will present smooth surfaces that will not be liable to cut the hands of those carrying the cans. By tapering the cans, it is clear that they may be easily nested when shipped back empty, thereby economizing space and saving transportation rates.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A can for use in shipping live fish, comprising a bucket, a perforated partition detachably mounted in the bucket interv mediate the top and bottom edges thereof and formed With an opening, an 1ce receptacle suspended in said opening, a lid for the ice receptacle, and means secured to the top of the bucket for preventing the unauthorized removal of the ice receptacle and the other contents of the bucket.

2. A can for use in shipping live fish, comprisin a bucket, a perforated partition arranged for detachable support in the bucket intermediate the top and bottom thereof, the bucket being formed above the plane of the partition support with perforations, the partition being formed with an opening, an ice receptacle mounted in said opening and suspended therein and spaced from the Walls of the bucket, the ice receptacle being formed with a lid, and a rack formed of intersecting bars arranged for locking engagement with the top edge of the bucket.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. SI-IAFER. [11. s]

Vitnesses HARRY E. SHAEFFER, CHAS. B. T. HENnRIoKsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

